Safe-deposit box.



H. W. PAPE, SAFE DEPOSIT BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1912.

Patented A131229, 1913.

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HARRY W. PAPE, or CINCINNATI, oHIo.

SAFE-DEPOSIT BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Application led September 30, 1912. Serial No. 723,122.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that LHARRY W. PAPE, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Safe-Deposit Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the drawing which accompanies this application and forms a part thereof.

This invention relates to means for increasing the security of individual safe deposit boxes, such as are provided by banking institutions and safety deposit banks and rented out by them to individual users. Under usual conditions, as they generally exist, such boxes are contained in a vault which is in charge of an attendant, who admits the patrons. Access tothe individual boxes requires the successive use of two keys, one in the hands of the vault attendant and the other in the-hands of the renter of the box. Neither can gain complete access without the presence of the other. The use of one key follows the use of the other key and completes the act of unlocking.

Recent occurrences have shown that in spite of all precautions the possibility exists whereby a dishonest vault attendant may obtain a' duplicate of the box renters key, since said key has been in possession of the attendant before it passed into possession of the renter. It has also been found that duplicates may be obtained after the keys have been given out, inasmuch as renters frequently permit attendants t-o open their boxes for them, whereby the attendant gains temporary possession of `the key. There are other ways not necessary to relate in detail whereby unauthorized access may be gained as for instance by co-action with a Confederate who is also a box renter.

The object of my invention is to provide certain means entirely within the control of the box renter and not received from the attendant, nor having ever been in his possession, so that unauthorized access in the manner before stated is rendered impossible.

In the following specication and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof, will be found a full description of my invention, together with its manner of use, parts and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l, shows in front-view a portion of a vault-section with a number of safe-derecesses B, commonly known as boxes and i which contain removable receptacles C, serving to receive the matter deposited. The manipulation of the door is controlled by a lock (not shown) of which a is the keyhole. The successive use of two keys is required on this lock to unlock a door. One of these keys is in the hands of the man in charge of the vault and used by him. The use of the other in the hands of the renter completes the opening of the door and gives him access to the box so as to permit withdrawal of receptacle C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. How this latter key or a duplicate thereof may be used in improper manner has been set forth. I propose to counteract the effects of such action by providing means whereby, even if a door has been successfully opened, the withdrawal by an unauthorized person of receptacle C is nevertheless prevented. These means are in the nature of an obstruction and although removable, forcibly or otherwise, such removal requires a certain length of time which would far exceed the time available to the vault attendant, whose presence in the vault beyond a reasonable length of time would excite suspicion. This obstruction is in form of a bar D which is permanently attached within the recesses B, and at or near their outer open end as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The attachment is an articulated one as shown at ci, and so as to permit adjustment of this bar to a position as shown in Fig. l, at the upper open box, also in Fig. 2, in which posit-ion it prevents withdrawal of receptacle C. A device is used adapted to hold the bar in this position and the same is connected thereto by lock-controlled means. A pad-lock as shown at E, is a device which contains all the requirements for the purpose, that is it may be readily connected to the bar, the latter having a perforation for the purpose, and after connection' it is adapted to hold the bar in a position in which it forms an obstruction to the removal of the receptacle. This padlock may be purchased by the box renter and anywhere, thus precluding the possibility whereby the vaultattendant may place himself in possession of a previously made duplicate key. Removal of this lock permit-s bar D, to lie close against the side of recess B, as best shown in Fig. l, lower open boX, also in Fig. 3, in which position, it being of limited thickness only, it forms no longer an obstruct-ion to the withdrawal of receptacle C, Which becomes now accessible.

It is of course understood that no burglar-proof security is necessary, merely sufficient of a barrier, the removal of which, considering the chances available, would retard and hinder access to the receptacle to an eX- tent which discourages the attempt.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

l. In combination, a safe-deposit boX having a door opening, a receptacle removably fitted to this box, a door for the opening mentioned, a bar provided between this door and the front-side of the receptacle and adjustably connected to permit it to occupy two positions between said door and said receptacle and within a plane which is parallel to the front-side of the receptacle, said bar in one of its positions being outside of the pat-h of the receptacle while this lat-ter is being removed, its other position being one in front thereof so as to prevent removal of the receptacle and means having a detachable, lock-controlled connection to this bar, to hold it in this latter position.

2. In combination, a safe-deposit boX having a door-opening, a door for this opening, a removable receptacle fitted to the box so as to leave a space between it and t-he door when this latter is closed, a flat bar provided -in this space and adjustably connected to permit it to occupy two positions within this space vback of the closed door and in one of Whichpositions it is outside of the path ofl the receptacle while the same is being removed, its other position being one in front of the receptacle so as .to prevent removal thereof, and a pad-lock adapted to hold the bar in its other position in which removal of the receptacle is prevented when said pad-lock 'is supported in the box back of the door thereof and attached to said bar.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses'.

HARRY W. PAPE.

Witnesses C. SPENGEL, T. LE BEAU.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for vecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ;Patents,

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